Airbnb and VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) are two of the most popular vacation rental platforms in the world. With over 220 countries on Airbnb and thousands of listings on VRBO, these platforms offer unique travel experiences for people who are looking for something different. But who owns these companies? In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the ownership of Airbnb and VRBO.
Airbnb: A Brief Overview
Founded in 2008, Airbnb began as a way to rent out air mattresses in San Francisco. Since then, it has grown to become a global travel giant that connects travelers with unique and affordable accommodations. As of 2021, Airbnb had over 4 million hosts and had facilitated over 1 billion guest arrivals.
Who Owns Airbnb?
Airbnb is a publicly traded company and is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol ABNB. The company went public in December 2020, and its IPO was one of the most highly anticipated of the year.
The co-founders of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, and Joe Gebbia, are still involved in the company, with Chesky serving as the CEO. Other major shareholders in Airbnb include venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and General Atlantic.
VRBO: A Brief Overview
VRBO was founded in 1995 as a website where property owners could list their vacation homes for rent. In 2006, it was acquired by HomeAway, another vacation rental platform. HomeAway continued to operate VRBO as a separate brand, and in 2015, Expedia Group acquired HomeAway and all of its subsidiaries, including VRBO.
Who Owns VRBO?
VRBO is a subsidiary of Expedia Group, a publicly traded company that is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol EXPE. In addition to VRBO, Expedia Group also owns other travel brands like Hotels.com, Orbitz, and Travelocity.
Conclusion
Airbnb and VRBO are two of the most popular vacation rental platforms in the world, offering travelers unique and personalized travel experiences. While Airbnb is publicly traded and owned by a variety of shareholders, including its co-founders and venture capital firms, VRBO is a subsidiary of Expedia Group, a publicly traded company that also owns other popular travel brands. Knowing who owns these platforms may not affect your decision to book a stay, but it’s always good to have a better understanding of the companies behind the experiences you enjoy.
